Steam Digital Gift Cards Are Finally Available: Here's How They Work

Steam is finally offering digital gift cards, just in time for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

It is unclear why it took so long for Valve to introduce Steam digital gift cards, but the important thing is that they are now available for the upcoming Steam sales.

Steam Digital Gift Cards Now Available

Valve announced the arrival of Steam digital gift cards through a dedicated page on the online gaming platform. Gamers can purchase the gift cards in denominations of $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100.

According to the FAQ section of the Steam digital gift cards page, the only restriction in giving these gift cards to another person is that both of you must have Steam accounts, and that you should be friends with that person on Steam.

Interestingly, however, users can only purchase gift cards for other users that have been on their friends list for at least three days. This is probably to prevent users who somehow gain access to another person's account from purchasing and sending out Steam digital gift cards under the victim's account.

Steam users are not allowed to use their Steam wallet fund to purchase the gift cards. Instead, they can be bought using major credit cards, PayPal, or Bitcoin.

Once a Steam digital gift card is sent, the amount will be added to the receiver's Steam wallet upon accepting it. There is no limitation on what users can purchase on Steam with the funds that were gifted to them.

The Steam digital gift cards widen the choices of people looking to give their friends the gift of gaming. Previous options were limited to physical gift cards that can be purchased at retailers like GameStop and Best Buy, and sending specific games as gifts.

Three Steam Sales Coming Up: What To Buy?

A recent leak revealed the dates for three next Steam sales that Valve will launch this year. The Steam Halloween sale will be on Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, the Steam Autumn Sale will be on Nov. 22 to Nov. 28, and the Steam Winter Sale will be on Dec. 21 to Jan. 4, 2018.

The games that will be involved in the Steam sales were not revealed. However, for those thinking of what game to buy with the funds they receive from a Steam digital gift card, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is a highly recommended title if you don't have it yet. There will be no PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds sequel soon as the developers have focused on a games-as-a-service model for the massively popular shooter, which has broken Steam records despite not even being finished yet.

From Our Sponsor

Entropia Universe, a stellar patchwork of compelling MMORPG elements, offers an infinite range of worlds begging to be explored. Check out this quick beginner's guide before you go exploring the virtual universe.